Which Vegan Foods are High in Protein? (Plus 30+ Recipes!)

Ah, protein… That mysterious macronutrient seeming to constantly evade vegans. Oh, wait, no it’s not: there’s protein in nearly every vegan staple, meaning it’s nearly impossible to be deficient. Which vegan foods are highest in protein? And what recipes use those ingredients? I’ve got you covered!

First, Some Misconceptions on Protein (Vegan or Not)

First of all, we need to establish that the majority of Americans vastly misunderstand protein and its effect on the body.

How much protein do we even need?

• Around 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man, and
• Around 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman

Yup, that’s it.

In fact, several chronic diseases have been linked to eating too much animal protein… So it’s a mystery why so many obsessively over-do it.

Moreso, our bodies can only absorb around 25-35g of protein per meal. Again: why do we have people searching for a 200g protein meal… It’s all being wasted!

“But you need a complete protein! Vegan proteins aren’t compleeeeeeeete!“

First of all: there are complete vegan proteins. Namely: Quinoa and Soy.

But most importantly: it doesn’t matter. Our bodies can combine incomplete proteins to make them whole.

Here’s an example:

• Beans are low in methionine but high in lysine
• Rice is low in lysine but high in methionine

Stick them together, and what do you get? A complete protein!

Best of all?

Our bodies are fantastic at holding onto “incomplete” proteins throughout the day… So your “incomplete” proteins can still be assimilated and “completed” later on. Whether it’s the same meal or just the same day!

List of Some of the Most Protein-Rich Vegan Foods:

• Seitan – 31.5g per 1/2 cup
• Hemp Seeds – 25g per 1/2 cup
• Peanuts – 20.5g per 1/2 cup
• Chia Seeds – 16g per 1/2 cup
• Edamame – 15g per 1/2 cup
• Cashews – 12g per 1/2 cup
• Tofu (firm) – 10g per 1/2 cup
• Lentils – 8.8g per 1/2 cup
• Tempeh – 8.5g per 1/2 cup
• Other Beans (Pinto, Black, etc) – 7.5g per 1/2 cup
• Chickpeas – 7.3g per 1/2 cup
• Potatoes – 4g per medium potato

That’s great and all… But are you really going to live on handfuls of nuts? Check out the 30+ protein-packed vegan recipes below!

Pin-It for Later!

High-Protein Vegan Recipes Using Seitan (Wheat “Meat”)

High-Protein Vegan Recipes Using Soy

High-Protein Vegan Recipes Using Lentils

Chickpeas / Other Beans

Vegan Recipes Using Nuts

Listen, I know peanuts are actually legumes… But to keep it simple we’ll just keep them here 😉

Protein-Rich Vegan Recipes Featuring Potatoes